Paid surveys in your language: why your voice matters

Canada does not answer surveys in one language

Walk down a busy street in Toronto, Vancouver, Montréal, Calgary or Brampton and you will hear dozens of languages. Many Canadians are most comfortable speaking, reading and thinking in a language other than English. Yet a lot of market research is still written only in English, and it quietly leaves those voices out.

EthnicPath exists to close that gap. We invite people from Canada’s many communities to share their opinions in paid surveys, and wherever a study allows it, you can answer in the language you are most comfortable with.

Languages we work with

Surveys at EthnicPath are available in more than 40 languages. Some of the most common include:

• Punjabi
• Mandarin and Cantonese
• Tagalog
• Arabic
• Spanish
• Urdu and Hindi
• Tamil
• Farsi
• French

Not every study runs in every language

Which languages a particular survey is offered in depends on the study. Some are written for one community in its own language, some run in several languages at once, and some are only available in English or French. When you receive an invitation, you will know which language the survey is in.

Why researchers need multicultural voices

Companies, public agencies and community organizations make decisions based on what people tell them. If only some people are asked, the decisions are shaped by only some people. That affects real things: which products end up on store shelves, how a health message is worded, what a bank explains to newcomers, which services a city offers and in which languages.

Language matters in research for a few practical reasons:

• People express nuance best in the language they think in. A question about trust, family or money can land very differently in a second language.
• Many opinions simply go unheard when surveys are only offered in English. Researchers get a picture of Canada that is missing large parts of the country.
• Cultural context changes how people shop, eat, save, celebrate and use services. Researchers cannot see those differences unless they ask the people who live them.

Your answers make the picture more accurate

When you answer a survey, you are not just earning a reward. You are helping make sure that people like you, your family and your community are counted when decisions are made. That is the whole reason multicultural research exists, and it only works when real people from each community take part.

How to set your languages in your profile

The languages you choose in your profile decide which surveys we can invite you to. It takes a minute:

• Sign in and open your profile.
• List every language you are comfortable answering a survey in, not only the one you use most. Many members are comfortable in two or three.
• Complete the rest of your profile survey, so we know which studies fit you. You earn $1 for finishing it.
• Update your profile whenever something changes.

How it works in practice

Joining is free, and you receive a $5 welcome bonus once you confirm your email. When a study matches your profile, we send you an invitation that shows the reward up front. Most surveys pay between $1 and $5, and longer studies pay more. Rewards are counted in points (100 points = $1), and you can redeem from $20 for an Amazon.ca gift card or PayPal.

Most members receive a few invitations a month. Think of it as a way to earn a little extra money while making sure your community is part of the conversation.

Which languages can I take surveys in?

EthnicPath surveys are available in more than 40 languages, including Punjabi, Mandarin, Cantonese, Tagalog, Arabic, Spanish, Urdu, Hindi, Tamil, Farsi and French. The languages offered depend on each study.

Do I need to speak English to join?

Many studies are offered in other languages, and the languages you list in your profile help us match you to them. Some studies are only available in English or French, so the more languages you are comfortable in, the more studies may fit you.

How do I tell you which languages I speak?

Sign in and open your profile, then list every language you are comfortable answering a survey in. Keep it up to date if anything changes.

Do surveys in other languages pay the same?

Every survey shows its reward before you start, whatever the language. Most pay between $1 and $5, and longer studies pay more.